Sutherland

Sutherland is only a stone's throw from the city, and about 11km west of Cronulla. It's a suburb on the move, seducing visitors with everything from its line-up of concerts and plays at Sutherland Entertainment Centre to its leisure centre where you can join a fitness class or follow the black line up and down the 50m heated pool. Arrive early to claim a spot on the grass and relax in the shade of an umbrella between dips in the pool and games of Marco Polo in the water play section of the indoor pool.

Once a year, the Sutherland to Surf fun run starts in Sutherland and attracts runners from all over the country who stride out along the tarmac that is cleared of cars for the special event.  

Every Saturday, the starting line for the Sutho 2 Surf morphs into the Sutherland's Shire Farmers' Market, which is alluring for locals who take their food seriously. BYO eco-friendly basket and stock it with Sixsmith granola, Pepe Saya's cultured butter, a Thoroughbread loaf of sourdough, some Down to Earth produce, Tathra Place Free-Range meat, Great Southern Mead & Honey to name a few. 

If you want to shake the crowds after your weekly shop, simply wander away from the car park and press pause in Peace Park and Chuo City Garden (pictured above), which is criss-crossed with pretty tree-lined paths. The park, which is a lovely place for a picnic, honours the sister city relationship between the Sutherland Shire and Chuo in Tokyo and a lovely place to walk through all-year-round and especially when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. 

Sutherland also flaunts its fancy side with restaurants that range from contemporary Mexican to traditional Italian trattorias, a rave-worthy ramen joint and cult coffee houses. 

Sutherland Library is also worth a visit, as this sprawling book barn hosts everything from Harry Potter Trivia Nights for the entire family to rhyme time for those with tiny tots in tow. 

Sutherland is on the Illawarra line and from here, it's a short train ride away to the Sydney Tramway Museum in neighbouring Loftus, which has been transporting visitors back in time for the past 50 years.